University of Missouri Extension

M181, New February 2012

Dairy Grazing: Selecting the Right Forage

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.)

Cool-season grasses

Thirty years ago, Kentucky bluegrass was the predominant cool-season grass in northern Missouri. Although it is not as popular as it once was, Kentucky bluegrass is still part of many grazing systems. It is often found in weaker stands of other cool-season grasses because it has rhizomes and tends to fill in where other plants have died. Kentucky bluegrass makes most of its growth in spring and is palatable to cattle. Although it tolerates frequent grazing or clipping, cattle often overgraze Kentucky bluegrass pastures. Ideally, it should not be grazed closer than 2 or 3 inches. Kentucky bluegrass does not tolerate hot weather and as a result is unproductive in midsummer. In addition, it becomes dormant during dry weather, although plants often recover after severe droughts.

Annual ryegrass

Yield distribution of annual Kentucky in Missouri.

Seed head

Collar region

Origin: Europe

Adaptation to Missouri: Best adapted to the northern half of the state